Recent studies have found that chronic sinusitis is linked to various conditions that can decrease a patient's quality of life, including sleep deprivation, impaired cognitive function and depression.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28.9 million Americans -- or 11.6% of the adult population -- suffer from the effects of chronic sinusitis. This condition was responsible for 4.1 million doctor visits and more than 230,000 emergency room visits in 2018.

A Korean study indicated that people with chronic sinusitis are 41% more likely to suffer from depression and 45% more likely to develop anxiety, according to Physician's Weekly.

"It certainly can be quite debilitating," Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Maryland Business Daily. "The studies show that it certainly contributes to a loss of vitality, productivity and quality of life. You don't have to live with it. There are solutions out there, many of which are very well-tolerated and minimally invasive and almost risk-free."

Another study in the medical journal Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy found that approximately 60 to 75% of people with chronic sinusitis also suffer from poor quality of sleep.

"Early intervention is key, because you can avoid the recurrent antibiotics that are developing the bacterial resistance. So when you really need an antibiotic, for a serious infection, it might not work anymore. So that's one aspect of getting on these earlier. But in addition, the more infections you have, if you're developing polyps, you can lose your sense of smell, which can be permanent. People who lose their sense of smell lose their sense of taste," Oberman said. "If you addressed (the issue) earlier, you'd have people who are thriving and living, not suffering."

An early intervention for sinus patients not only increases their  immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs, according to a different study published in Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery.  One of the most common treatments for chronic sinusitis is balloon sinuplasty, which is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that is  performed at Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, and the  results have been proven very effective for chronic sinus sufferers.